Silver: Sterling ownership transfer may not be resolved by start of season

CBS Sports | Jul 16

Adam Silver admitted Wednesday following the NBA's Board of Governors meeting that transfer of ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers from Donald Sterling may not be complete by the start of the regular season in late October due to the courts process, but made it clear one way or another Sterling is gone.

"You know, I'm not sure (about the timing of the transfer)," Silver said, "only because we're not actually a party to those proceedings, and while I'm following the litigation and we have a lawyer in the courtroom who's giving us regular reports on it, they're in recess right now. At least based on my understanding of how it has proceeded, certainly Shelly, it appears that she's done all the right things as set out in their trust agreement.

"I'll only say that if for whatever reason the judge ultimately doesn't decide in favor of Shelly, we'll reactivate our proceedings to terminate the franchise. I think there was never a question about that. We had scheduled a date, Shelly Sterling came forward and said you don't need to terminate the franchise, I'm going to sell it, and she sold it, and now we're in essence on hold since that sale is being challenged by her husband as to whether she has the right, and if the court finds in her favor the sale will move forward, and if not, we will move forward with our own proceedings.

"As to the precise timing, my sense from listening to what the judge and reading what the judge has said is that once he reconvenes the hearing he will decide relatively quickly. Sounds like he's being very complete. He's allowing in a lot of testimony. He's allowing all the lawyers to say their peace, and I think then he'll be prepared to rule."